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“The Amistad,” Charleston Courier, 24 Sept. 1839.
[Correspondence of the N. Y. Com. Adv.]
THE AMISTAD
HARTFORD, Tuesday Evening, Sept. 17.
Nothing of any interest has been done to-day in the matter of the African captives.
All of them except Jingua, or Shinaguaw, and one other, were brought to this place
on Saturday, and Jingua came on yesterday. The other was too unwell to be removed.
One died, I understand, on Saturday--perhaps the one whose illness prevented his
removal.
This morning the Circuit Court was opened by Judge Judson--Judge Thompson not having
arrived. The grand jury was sworn and charged--but I understood the Judge to intimate,
in his charge, that the case of the Africans, would not, probably, be submitted to
them until after they should have received another special charge from Judge Thompson.
At twelve o'clock, no business being ready, the Court was adjourned until 2 P. M.;
and at that hour, none of the counsel being prepared with any cases, the petit jury
was discharged for the day. Soon after, Judge Thompson made his appearance, and almost
immediately proceeded to the Court Room--but, as it turned out, only to adjourn until
to-morrow morning at 9.
Very considerable doubts are entertained, I find, whether the grand jury will bring
in a bill for any crime against the Africans; in which case the whole discussion
will be on the various civil claims set up--namely, by the Spaniards to the Africans
as slaves, and by the officers and crew of the Washington to salvage on the schooner
and cargo. But we shall know more about it in a day or two.
The Spanish gentlemen have arrived this evening. Mr. Staples came in the morning
line. I am not informed whether any other of the counsel are here. It is supposed
that Mr. Ingersoll will act with the district attorney; and it is presumable that
the Spaniards have counsel employed also.
I went, with some hundreds of others, this morning, to see the captives--paying my
York shilling, like an honest man, for the privilege. The nonsense that has been
written about them is awful. The sober truth is that they are just what in the south
would be called a likely lot of young Negroes--very few of them seeming to be much
if any thing over twenty.
They are small, not averaging, I should think, more than five feet and two or three
inches. The "cannibal," or "man with the tusks," is a good-tempered
looking fellow, and I venture to say never ate a morsel of man's flesh in his life.
His"tusks" are just slightly projecting front teeth, such as I have seen
, scores of times, in the mouths of white people. Joseph, or Jinqua, or Shinquaw,
or Cinquez, is of superior appearance to the rest; indeed he may be called a handsome
negro--with well-formed head, symmetrical features, and an expression both intelligent
and agreeable. When conversing with his fellows, or trying to converse with the white
folks, by signs, his look is extremely animated and cheerful and he gesticulates
with great rapidity and variety.
When not so occupied, his expression is serious--even melancholy--which, I suppose,
is not to be wondered at. When he was brought into the jail, yesterday, the others,
who had been separated from him twenty-four hours, set up a great shouting, and crowded
about him with vehement rejoicings.
I will let you know by the next post what happens tomorrow.
_________
We learn from Hartford, this morning, that there was nothing done in the case of
the Africans yesterday. The attention of the court was directed to other business.
